Senior Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer, Soft Cover Team

Senior Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer, Soft Cover Team

Location: Palo Alto, CA  (on‑site)

About 1X

We’re an AI and robotics company based in Palo Alto, California, on a mission to build a truly abundant society through general‑purpose robots capable of performing any kind of work autonomously.

We believe that to truly understand the world and grow in intelligence, humanoid robots must live and learn alongside us. That’s why we’re focused on developing friendly home robots designed to integrate seamlessly into everyday life.

We’re looking for curious, driven, and passionate people who want to help shape the future of robotics and AI. If this mission excites you, we’d be thrilled to hear from you and explore how you might contribute to our journey.

Role Overview

We’re seeking a Senior Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer with deep experience in softgoods for hard systems—someone who can design, prototype, and industrialize.  

Development of protective and damping structures for robots — focusing on cushioning geometries, impact-absorbing exteriors, and integrated protective components. 

Responsible for transitioning designs from prototype to mass production, including injection molding, complex over-mold assemblies, and manufacturability optimization.

Create detailed technical drawings, define tolerances and quality standards, and manage suppliers through the production and validation process.

You’ll own the full lifecycle from concept and CMF to validation and ramp, balancing durability, ingress protection, thermal/EMI, and serviceability while preserving sensors/actuators’ performance and the robot’s aesthetic.

Responsibilities

• Own subsystem design for robot covers: panels, seams, closures, articulated bellows, flexible hinges, padding, and abrasion/impact layers.

• Developing materials stackups (foams, silicone, TPU, TPA are most important. 3d knit and coated fabrics)

• Prototypes rapidly focus on injection and over molding.

• Architect IP-rated solutions (e.g., IP54–IP66) for dust/water ingress at moving joints; design gaiters/boots and seal interfaces to hard tooling.

• Deliver a robot cover system that achieves target IP rating, endurance cycles, service time and meeting mass manufacturing standard. 

• Develop materials stackups (TPU films, silicone-coated fabrics, aramids, UHMWPE/Dyneema, PTFE membranes, 3D knit, spacer mesh, stretch wovens, foams).

• Model and analyze in CAD/FEA for fit-up, tolerance, drape, and fatigue; run design experiments for wear-life, UV/chemical exposure, and laundering/cleaning.

• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Mech/EE/FW/ID/Manufacturing to maintain interfaces, routing, thermal paths, and ESD/EMI strategies.

• Author clear documentation: drawings, BOMs, specs, test methods, work instructions; manage ECOs through release.

• Scale production with vendors, select and qualify softgoods CMs; bring-up tooling/fixtures; perform FAIs and process capability (SPC/CPK) checks.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, especially involving precision mechanical or electromechanical assemblies

• Strong understanding of design for manufacturability (DFM) and experience integrating electromechanical systems

• Familiarity with measurement techniques and standards such as GD&T, tolerance stack analysis, CMM or other high‑precision inspection methods

• Solid collaboration skills across engineering disciplines, supply chain, QA, and production teams

• Exposure to high‑mix, low‑volume environments with frequent design iteration

• Knowledge or experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement strategies

• Proficiency with CAD tools(Onshape or Solidworks), PLM/ERP systems, and manufacturing documentation
  

Benefits & Compensation

• Salary Range: $140,000 - $170,000

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

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